HANG TIME HEADQUARTERS — From the very start, we’ve had nothing but good things to say about the way the Orlando Magic are handling Dwight Howard and his future with the franchise.

With every win, and every milestone (above) Howard reaches in a Magic uniform, their decision to step back from the trade discussions involving their superstar center seems more and more like the right one.

The Denver Nuggets went down the same path last season with Carmelo Anthony before moving him to New York. But these situations are quite different in regards to the perception of the teams making the decision. While the Nuggets were a playoff team with Anthony, no one considered them much of a title contender before the trade.

The Magic, meanwhile, appear to be a legitimate threat to the Bulls and Heat in the chase for the Eastern Conference crown this season. As of this morning they’re second in the Southeast Division, sporting an identical 12-5 record as the Heat, behind the 13-5 Hawks.

And whether Howard is on his way out of Orlando or not, he is busy cementing his legacy as arguably the greatest player in Magic history (sorry Shaquille O’Neal and Penny Hardaway, but Dwight already has the all-time scoring mark and has led the franchise to just as many appearances in The Finals as you both did.)

Orlando has three things going for it in its effort to manipulate Howard into staying: money, a winning record and his desire to be liked. If Howard chooses to go to another team as a free agent, it could cost him $30 million, since the collective bargaining agreement allows the Magic, as the team that drafted him, to offer him the most money.

The salary should be enough to make even Howard — who is earning close to $18 million this season — uncomfortable about leaving.

Some NBA stars might be egomaniacs, but few of them want to be cast in a bad light. Most players don’t even have the guts to ask for a trade themselves. They use their agents, representatives and other back channels to make their true feelings known so they can have plausible deniability with their home teams’ fans. During his trade drama in Denver last season, Carmelo Anthony always insisted he never asked for a trade, even though it was so obvious he wanted to be with the New York Knicks that he might as well have put it on a Times Square billboard.

There’s that Anthony comparison again. And it’s hard to ignore the similarities, good and bad.

We all know how that’s working out for Anthony … and for his former team.

115 Comments

Dwight already made it clear that if he was traded to the bulls he would not sign for the long term so the Bulls would be crazy to take that risk. Then they’ll be like the Knicks getting rid of the entire team to aquire Melo. I am a fan of Dwight and I wish hime the best of luck wherever he lands. I really wanna see him stay in Orlando, they just need to get some REAL help for him like D Will. FYI Miami fans the Heat couldn’t get Howard unless 1 of the big 2.5 get traded in the deal, and signing him via free agency is impossible they have no money for that

i will be glad if Howard went to the LAKERS… The Bulls don’t need Dwight because, they have the most complete line-up. they have a defensive Center , A powerful forward..Deng is efficient.. a great 3 pointer and a VALUABLE point guard,,,so go to L.A.. dont bother bout the “like a SHAQ” thing,, just make your own decision and make your own HISTORY..! that would be much appreciated…i’m a KOBE fan and i know KB24 needs you..

I’m a Heat fan first of all and a DWade fan but I actually think it wouldn’t be a bad idea to trade D. Wade for Dwight Howard. Having an all-star centre would give them the player they truly need instead of an all-star SG.

Look. there’s good arguments here and bad ones. But i gotta say that the guy who said the Bulls would have to trade half of their roster to get him is stupid. He wants out. They need something to replace him, and can’t just upset teams they want something from. A trade of Noah and either Watson, or Brewer would be a young couple of guys who could help. plus it puts Howard with his friend and reigning MVP Rose. It would improve an already number1 defense, and bolster their offense. It wouldn’t hurt the Bulls and would be good for the Magic as well. Best they will get from anybody anyway. Howard to the Bulls is better than any other choice for him. Oh, and to the guys who think Shaq is better…. HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!!!!

Wow I don’t know where to begin berating your stupidity.. shaq in his dominance… which reigned for close to a decade was much better than dwight howard will ever be… watch shaq in his prime play ball and then post this smut buddy…

If howard wants to win RINGS and not just 1 there is no other place for him to do that than the bulls, bulls have the best to offer and u put noah in orlando where he is loved back from his college days with there are so many options where the bulls have the most to offer .People talking about him going to the knicks get the hell outta here who wants amare the guy can barley move anymore, lakers old ok maybe win 1, dallas old again ok maybe win 1 if ure a true basketball fan u know chi is the place where he would win several rings with all the young talent and the MVP of the leauge at the age of 23. Anyone who thinks otherwise sorry but im right, if howard isnt scared to play alongside the mvp and most humble player in the leauge by far and cares about rings and not just stats he should b going to the chi and putting up 6 more championchip banners

Do not compare dwight to shaq; dwight to melo. ridiculous. Dwight can go in any team he wants. But obviously he must go to the team that has an eagerness to win the championship such as BULLS, LAKERS, WOLVES.
If he go with bulls, bring back their dynasty.
Lakers – continue grabbing the ring
Wolves – do what GARNETT CAN’T DO.

Follow what Shaq did, go to the lakers there’s nothin wrong with that? win 3 championships with Kobe in L.A. after Kobe retires, leave L.A. go to miami and team up with (maybe Lebron is still there, give him his first and only championship), see 4 rings awaiting for you … then just be a journeyman get traded to phoenix, they may already have a Nash replacement at that time, then the Cavs next, since after those years of bottom dwelling they finally drafted the “next Lebron James” and He needs your help, after that go to the celtics, they probabaly have the new Big three again there. you should retire in the East because, the one who’ll replace you is drafted by Orlando… an emerging 6’10” – 6’11” defensive monster who wins back to back Defensive Player of the year awards and slam dunk championships… weeew talk about DeJavu all over again.

I would like to see Dwight stay in Orlando. He could be the anti-LeBron. Magic needs to put some effort in getting a winning combo there. I like Jameer’s numbers but remember, when they went to the finals they had Rafer Alston running the show not Jameer Nelson. replacing Nelson with D-Will would be sweet. Ryan Anderson replaces Rashard Lewis’ production, and Hedo could do with a heart transplant to bring him back to his glory days!

I’m a Lakers fan, but I’m NOT delusional like everyone else seems to be and I don’t understand what part of Dwight will only sign with Lakers/Mavericks/Nets you people don’t understand??? It’s a quote. ONLY teams his agent is talking to. Period. My team is out, because Little Bus won’t part with both Bynum and Gasol and we don’t have the money to sign him in free agency.. THIS ONLY LEAVES TWO TEAMS GUYS. With the Nets moving to Brooklyn and their owner who’s one of the richest men in the world wanting a face to push his franchise and knowing rick people like him get what they want eventually??? Odds are Dwight Howard will be a Brooklyn Net next year. Sorry to kill your wet dream fantasies..

Options for Dwight are good in response to Knicks Team roster and defensive abilities. To trade Dwight for Amar’e and Tyson would be considered a quality deal. Dwight makes scoring and offense a key for the knicks and speed things up in the centre position, while the magic get a decent trade and can rebuild the team with 2 very high quality players. The knicks then have the good old days back and can actually compete against the heat. I’m not a knicks fan, but I remember the Jordan era and the battles with the knicks.

Magic fans just let it go…..If he stays awesome,if he goes who cares.
Why would we want a player on our team that doesn’t want to be there.I turn on my T.V to watch basketball not to hear about players feelings and problems…..I have my own.
GO MAGIC!!!!!!!!!!!!

All these talk about ‘wanna win championship…’ are just a trash!
If DH12 wants to win, he go to Chicago, Miami, OKC…whatever….with minimum salary….it’s just ridiculous!
there is no other team than present Orlando with more possibility of winning championship.

hey Sekou; need i remind you that Shaq left Orlando for the Lakers after 4 years! so it’s no surprise that D Howard would be the all time scoring leader in Orlando! Dwight would be chasing Shaq for a long time if he stayed in Orlando! But Dwight is a great center and I wish him the best; no matter where he ends up!

Orlando just need to move fast to bring D Williams in a trade for J Nelson and olso trade Richarson for a solid second guard. With that move Howards stay, but please let him pick with who he would like to play. Make the team his from A to Z there is not space 4 mistakes because if they don’t please D 12 they have to start over to build a champion team or at least a contender no a a pretender. The way D12 dominate the NBA show the is not to hard to find players to help him moore with out so many 3 points shoots, a good PG the realy can run the game and give him the ball when he raely ask. Lets go Magic don’t give up we are very close to win a championship with out 2 super stars nex to him.

Don’t be like Shaq and ruin your legacy. Shaq won 4 championship true but it was never ” the big man’s team” shaq can’t say he belongs to any team, lakers won 10 championships before he showed up and 2 after he left. Miami was Wade and Mourning’s team..
Dwight Howard is the most dominant big man by the same margin to any other player as SHAQ was during his prime.
If Dwight stays in ORLANDO, and Wins a championship. HOWARD’s LEGACY as a player and what he meant to a team will forever be remembered. When we think of GREAT teams such as the lakers and the celtics, SHAQ, who by the way played for both.. DOESN’T EVEN COME TO MIND…

IF HOWARD STAYS IN ORLANDO AND WINS AT LEAST ONE CHAMPIONSHIP AND GIVES HIS TEAMA CHANCE TO COMPETE EVERY YEAR.. PFF HE WILL BE REMEMBERED AS THE HAKEEM OLAJUWON OF THE ORLANDO MAGIC,..

NOW ASK YOURSELF, WHICH TEAM DID SHAQ PLAYED ON EMBRACES HIM LIKE THE ROCKETS EMBRACE OLAJUWON.

Gasol is better than Dwight, I would like to see Gasol as the main star of a team, having 20+ shots per game. We would have a KG in his best times caliber player. His sacrifice playing his best years with a ballhog is enormous. He should leave LA and lead a team a pair of years, he still has basket for 2 more years.

@Dwight Howard to Miami Heat!!!
you really call the magic fans selfish? you don’t know how it is to watch your franchise player walking away
you have three all stars in your team and you don’t have enough?
the only person who’s selfish is you!!!
how about wade should leave miami because eight years are enough?
do you like that?

First of all, I am not from Miami. You will just have to trust me on this one (why would I lie?) that I am Canadian and I am from Toronto. So fill yourself in on what happened to a certain player known as CB4 here and earlier a slam dunk champion by the name if Vince Carter.

Dwight Howard is perfect in Miami because the Heat lacks a big man.
I believe if we all put our wishes together, that the miracle of the Fantast 4 of south beach will happen. So I would like all Dwight Howard supporters here to leave a message under “Dwight Howard to Miami Heat!!!” name. Without multiple championships, what numbers you got, how dominant a player you are, how you are a leader, your personality, they all do not matter. Without multiple championship, no one can be considered a true great. So to all DH12 fans out there, unless you think DH12 has a better chance at winning multiple championship elsewhere, or not be considered a great at all, please shout this out: “Dwight Howard to Miami Heat!!!”

Going to be comedy IF Orlando dares him to leave because of the whole oh he’ll lose $30 million… If he goes to Dallas, LA or NJ he will make a lot of it up in endorsements. He may not make all of it up but it’s funny how these writers are making a big deal out of it. Pretty dumb if you ask me, obviously Howard already knew he would be getting less when he asked to be traded. Please feel free to see if he stays at the end of the season ..

From my understanding, Dwight has the opportunity at signing for a much better deal with Orlando once the season’s over, so while all of us Magic fans would love to see him commit to the Magic and sign now, it makes more sense for him to wait until the end of the season. So whether or not he plans to stay, he’s not going to sign until the end of the year anyway.

Yeah Follow what Shaq did, go to the lakers there’s nothin wrong with that? win 3 championships with Kobe in L.A. after Kobe retires, leave L.A. go to miami and team up with (maybe Lebron is still there, give him his first and only championship), see 4 rings awaiting for you … then just be a journeyman get traded to phoenix, they may already have a Nash replacement at that time, then the Cavs next, since after those years of bottom dwelling they finally drafted the “next Lebron James” and He needs your help, after that go to the celtics, they probabaly have the new Big three again there. you should retire in the East because, the one who’ll replace you is drafted by Orlando… an emerging 6’10” – 6’11” defensive monster who wins back to back Defensive Player of the year awards and slam dunk championships… weeew talk about DeJavu all over again.

Howard will the leader on ANY team he joins wheather he stays with the magic or goes eleswhere NETS anyone?????
Howard needs a secondary star on the wing wheather it is Williams who is a free agent at the end of this year or another aging vet that has the ability to lead with out being “THE GUY”, some one like Ray allan anyone.
Bring in some veteren big in to help guide Howard and the other bigs, someone with playoff expierence and Allstar ability, someone like Jermain O’neal, or a Juwan Howard, even a Jamal Maglore would help.
Trade Nelson for someone like Raymond Felton, or Andre Miller, some one with PLayoff expierence and that can lead a team with Howard, when and if Williams is not on the floor, if he comes to Orlando. The wing players and the PF posistion is strong ennoff and the wing players with JJ, and richardson is also strong ennoff to hold down the fort. The 3 posistion is laking so a defencive player that can hit the three would be great, someone like Matt Barns or a josh Childress, or even a James Johnson from the Toronto raptors. (Look at his stats and what really impresses is the BPG with his limited time.

Let’s have a moment of silence for Gilbert Arenas. Thanks to Yosemite Sam being out of the fold, the Magic have a legit shot of luring in some B grade or even A- grade talent. And on a team that already has performed well and not even up to it’s potential I think it’s safe to say that with Otis slow playing this hand Orlando just may be picking up all the chips when this is said and done.

Orlando Magic shoud trade Dwight Howard for Andrew Bynum/Matt Barnes(D-12 is going to walk). If they want to unload Turkoglu they will have to take in Luke Walton and Metta World Peace(that could be worse). Dwight for Bynum is good but with Barnes it’s a little easier to swallow.

Andrew Bynum is the #2 big man in the league and he’s proven himself in this condensed season. This just makes sense!

Really? very far back? do you watch Bynum play? A player with a better offensive arsenal than d 12 who is quite capable of putting up dwightesque numbers as a now third option? IMO the only thing Howard only over Bynum is athleticism. something that only really helps when you’re trying to block someone or be flashy whilst dunking… And with the way Bynum is playing the Lakers would be stupid to trade him for anyone at the moment..

I honestly don’t know, I only started watching basketball in 04-05. But I don’t see how that affects Dwight Howard, if you are in a organization that can’t put competitive players out there, wating is a waste of time.

As a Mavericks fan I am hoping for Dallas to sign Native D-will and Howard in the offseason. We would have to Amnesty Haywood and shuffle some players around but it is definitely a possibility, I can see D-Will coming home for sure.

I’m a Magic and D12’s fan, I loved D12 to stay. But in case he leaves via trade I would love to see him in Wolves jersey beside Rubio and Williams. I think with the presence of D12 in Wolves they would rise immediately.

If they can continue to win games, it might be worth the risk to keep Howard and not trade him (especially if they believe that winning and performing well in the playoffs might be enough to convince him to stay). Yes it will be risky, but if they are winning and playing well, keeping the status quo might give them a chance at some real playoff success.

But honestly, that is where the dilemma becomes even more problematic. If they continue to play well and hold on to Howard but falter in the playoffs, Howard is all but gone come July 1. Playoff success is the only thing that may convince him to stat.

But if this Magic team, with Howard, can make a long playoff run it might become a little more difficult for Dwight to leave Orlando (the only place he has played professionally) and walk into a foreign and unknown situation with another franchise.

Really? U think having a great record , a great run in the playoffs would make dwight stay? Oh yes, great idea no player would have leave their team, because they were no.1, and went into the 2nd round of the playoffs, a league MVP… (smiling already…. when… suddenly….) F8%k King Lebron did that to the Cavs… grrr ahhhhh it’s a nightmare again….

Dwight should go to the knicks. It works both ways. Orlando gets Amar’e and Chandler in return and Dwight gets to play with Carmelo. This will also make the knicks a player in the next years free agency as they get rid of the contracts of Amar’e and Chandler.

It’s hard for salary loaded teams to get Howard. One word – Hedo. This dump will probably come with dwight in any trade, and them two will take up a big chunk of any salary cap you have. With them two eating up your money, you can’t really surround them with legit good players, maybe you can try your luck with drafts or other role players, but you’ll have a hard time really ‘competing’.

I guess either he goes to New Jersey(which will be quite foolish in my view, they won’t do anything but create a buzz with D-will and Dwight, but i guess nowadays that’s enough- aka Amare and Melo)

Or he’ll just stay. I mean he obviously works well with Van(well enough at least) and he’s got some nice players around him.

If they let Dwight become a free agent, then he should come to the Sixers… We could amnesty Elton Brand then, push Spencer Hawes to the PF… we have the athletes that can run and defend with Dwight… and the shooting will improve because Dwight will draw double-teams…

What about Dwight to Grizzlies for Marc Gasol, draft picks and maybe another player.

C -Dwight
PF – Z-Bo (These two at the backcourt would be dominant as both will draw double teams allowing Dwight to pound inside easily or Z-Bo to get an open shot
SF – Rudy Gay, Basically an allstar forward, he’ll score play defense etc. etc. good compliment with the backcourt for and inside out game that is way more sophisticated than when Orlando was at its peak.
SG – Tony Allen, he’ll play defense hit those tough shots and be a role player
PG – Mike Conley, very undderated point guard and has the abilities to do everything.
Then a bench led by OJ mayo and Co can play quick fast and cut through oppositions. This bench can easily be upgraded during the off season.

All in all a very defensive team but can play amazing offense. The boards will be owned and shots will be blocked. With perimeter defense led by Allen and with Dwight and Z-Bo controlling the inside this team will be unstopable and this coming here from a Lakers fan.

Oh yea, we’ll give you howard for brian scalabrine, how about that? Idiot, don’t ask for deng? If Howard comes to chicago, deng, Noah, Gibson, Korver and on their way out to Orlando. We could get a better deal with the knicks, Amare, Chandler, Fields and Shumpert for Howard and Hedo Turk. So, the bulls will have derek and howard but they ain’t going to contend for a title because we ll take half of their team. Who do you think the bulls gonna give up rip and scalabrine for howard? Getta outta here.

Let me ask you, Inkwell, you seemed to follow the DH talks, where do you think he should land? You object orlando, LA, Miami, Mavs, now bulls, you think he should retire after this season or something?

You can’t get anything back even remotely equalling Howard in a trade. So don’t do it. Raise standards and ask his teammates to convince him to stay by playing out of their freaking minds. Anderson is already doing that. Turkolu is an exceptional all around player and needs to raise his game. Richardson must do the same and so does nelson. They have the makings of a championship team. Why go to a mountain if you’re standing on the top of the highest one?????

In my mind, there’s only one place Howard could go and have a legitimate case for going there (winning). That team is Chicago. Unlike the Lakers and Dallas, they’re young and will be contending for a long long time. How many seasons will Howard have with Kobe before he is in full on decline? 3? How about with Dirk in Dallas? Derrick Rose is 23 years old. That’s 8-10 years of contention. New Jersey? They are not close to contending with or with out D Will. And, the Bulls have several ways to go about getting him. If Howard agrees to sign with them, they could use their amnesty provision on Boozer and then salary dump Hamilton’s contract using picks and maybe Jimmy Butler as sweetner and that should get them there. Or, they can trade one of Boozer or Noah and one of Asik or Gibson along with the rights to Mirotic, Jimmy Butler, CHA 1st round pick, CHI 1st round picks 2012-2014. That keeps their team in good shape and still sends a starting front court and a boat load of young players and picks. Do not expect Chicago to send Deng. They do not have to and probably will not. They are already on the precipice of a championship and I doubt they will obliterate their team to acquire Howard.

I ‘think’ Leto was referring to Dwight signing with Chicago as a free agent, as the article was more or less saying the Magic aren’t going to trade him. Which means it wouldn’t matter what Orlando would want to do with Hedo.

To all owners out there: Orlando is bluffing with all the Hedo unload or asking for trade pieces talks. No team should give up half their team for Dwight. If I were a owner on any team, I will not even mention any of my starter to send to orlando, all I would offer is bench players and try to convince Dwight that my team is good and able to contend for a long time. Orlando Magics will have two options at the end of the trade deadline, trade him for just a few bench player and draft picks, or pull off a miracle in bring one superstar or two all stars to orlando and make howard sign an extension. There is no point crippling your team over a man who will walk as an unrestricted free agent next summer. Even if doing that makes your team slightly better, it is completely unnessisary.

This “$30M” is quite a bit misconstrued. That’s only because of the 5th guaranteed year as opposed to the 4 available to him if he leaves the Magic at the end of the year. It’s really more like ~$4M lost over the course of 4 years and then he’ll have an opportunity to extend that contract or sign a new one.

Dwight don´t need to leave…just trade Nelson and Richardson for some great defensive mentality players..Felton could probably make a difference there alongside with Lamar Odom…with a lot of experience in the finals..bring Petrius back…

I doubt he wants to follow Lebron’s sorry way to a ‘ship. That’s D-Wade’s team and Dwight will not follow to be anyones secondary. Hopefully you’re from Miami so we can send an invitation to the parade this June in Orlando!

7 years of waste??? Really…?? 5 years of continous playoff appearance, 2 times in the easter finals and just a couple years ago in the NBA finals is a waste??? Dude, wake up!! It’s not that easy to win the championship in the NBA and the Magic has been so close to it! You gotta be kidding me making that statement! With a few tweaks the Magic has just as much chance (or even more) to win with Howard than if he’d go to any of the few other contending teams!

Are you joking how are his years a waste. He has been to the finals which is more than 90% of the nba can say. Plus he actually played well in the finals. Lebron has been there twice and been disgraceful both times. Think before you talk.

What about Dwight to Grizzlies for Marc Gasol, draft picks and maybe another player.

C -Dwight
PF – Z-Bo (These two at the backcourt would be dominant as both will draw double teams allowing Dwight to pound inside easily or Z-Bo to get an open shot
SF – Rudy Gay, Basically an allstar forward, he’ll score play defense etc. etc. good compliment with the backcourt for and inside out game that is way more sophisticated than when Orlando was at its peak.
SG – Tony Allen, he’ll play defense hit those tough shots and be a role player
PG – Mike Conley, very undderated point guard and has the abilities to do everything.
Then a bench led by OJ mayo and Co can play quick fast and cut through oppositions. This bench can easily be upgraded during the off season.

All in all a very defensive team but can play amazing offense. The boards will be owned and shots will be blocked. With perimeter defense led by Allen and with Dwight and Z-Bo controlling the inside this team will be unstopable and this coming here from a Lakers fan.

Yes, try not to argue with me, that 7 years is a waste. Even that year when he went to the final, very few gave orlando a chance at beating the lakers. Even I, as a laker hater, routed for the lakers that year because Orlando just didn’t stand a chance, and I was right. Although 90% of the nba would consider going to the finals a honor, dwight was not part of that 90%. He is that top 10% and the best center in the league, so the bar should be higher for him. For a player his caliber, it is ring or bust, that is the level he is playing at. This is what I like about Miami Heat, the rescued Lebron and Bosh from getting wasted by Clevland and Toronto (im from toronto, by the way) and Made a true contender that people actually gave them a chance at winning. Although they came up short last season, the atmosphere is complete diffrent when dwight howard played the laker in the finals. Maybe “more evenly matched” is the way to describe it.

You have no idea what your talking about. Lebron played great in the 2007 NBA finals. He took a a Cavs team full of scrubs there and they were not able to compete. Not him. I’m pretty sure you win as a team and lose as a team.

Dwight should come to the Lakers. Talk about the future. The Lakers always have the championship mind and will always find good players to surround Dwight, and they’re one of the few teams that has a big ATM! He will be a perfect dou with Kobe, who’s trying hard to get another championship ring so he can compare with MJ, thus, they’ll have the same purpose. When Kobe retires, it’ll be Dwight’s team. Living in the Hollywood, Dwight will get many endorsements that make up for whatever money the costs him for leaving Orlando, if not more. Only good players with championship rings are well remembered, Dwight deserves this.